Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket review

Back in 2024, Lego delivered an excellent (and huge) Icons model of the NASA Artemis Space Launch System. With a price tag of $260, a footprint of 10 x 11-inches and a height of 27.5-inches, however, not everyone has the budget or space to accommodate it. For those people, enter the brand new Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket.

It costs less than a quarter of the Lego Icons version and yet, in terms of the rocket itself at least, looks just as realistic. While the larger NASA Artemis Space Launch System may have a more realistic scaffold, it lacks any sort of interactive functionality — and that’s where the new Technic version shines. By turning a crank, you’ll get to witness the rocket launching, showing three distinct stages. Not only does it boast a very clever design, but it’s an educational set, too.

Where to buy the Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System

• 🧱 Lego.com for $59.99 — new model
• 💵 Amazon.com for $59.95 — new model
• 🎯 Target for $59.99 — new model
• 🚀 Lego NASA bundle at Costco for $249.99 — includes Space Shuttle
• ✨ Kohl's for $59.99 — new model
• ✅ Walmart for $59.95 — new model

For children with an interest in space, rockets and NASA, the Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket is an absolute must-have. But even for the grown-ups amongst us, it’s a very enjoyable build that manages to be just challenging enough without ever being frustrating. It’s safe to say that this set will earn a place in our guide to the best Lego space sets currently available.

Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket review: Build

• Easy to follow instructions
• Engaging and rewarding build
• Very clever Technic mechanism

You’ll need to carve out around two to three hours to put together the Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket, although your exact mileage will depend on how well-versed you are at building Technic. Before you go into this set, it’s important to note that putting together a Technic set can be an altogether different experience from assembling a standard Lego set. Regular bricks are replaced with lugs and rods and, generally speaking, form is replaced with function. But while some Technic sets leave a lot to be desired, aesthetically speaking, I think the NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket lends itself very well to its Technic construction. It looks just as realistic as its Lego Icons counterpart, despite having five times fewer pieces.

Its smaller size means it’s an easier, quicker build, and its 9+ age rating indicates it’s suitable for kids and adults alike. I wouldn’t recommend giving this to a child as their first Lego build, but for someone with moderate experience in putting together Technic sets, it should be a straightforward and rewarding project.

Unsurprisingly, the rocket is one of the last parts that you build, with most of the legwork taken up with structure, form and technical innards. The first couple of bags are concerned with getting the mechanisms in place; essentially, a lever that will, eventually, raise and lower the rocket from a launch position to take off. It’s a clever set-up of cogs and rods, one that will delight and fascinate in equal measure — providing it’s all put together accurately. The instructions are clear and concise, and due to the age rating here, you’ll never be dealing with more than a few pieces at any one time, which makes things nice and easy to follow.

Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket review: Design

• Very clever design
• Hidden mechanism that can be viewed via a lift-up flap
• Three-stage launch process

Lego, give the designers of the Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket a raise, because this is one of the best Technic sets I've built to date. Not only does it look wonderful (not to mention easily identifiable), but it features an incredibly clever mechanism that can launch the rocket.

Turning a crank on the bottom-right-hand side of the model will set in motion a system that rotates a large twisted rod, to which the rocket is attached. As this rod rotates, the rocket begins to ascend. When it reaches a certain point, its two rocket boosters will separate from the core, and the final stage of the launch will see the Orion spacecraft separate. Turn the crank the other way, and everything will return to a pre-launch position. If only a real rocket launch were so easy.

The main components of the mechanism are hidden in the base, for which you’ll build a plain black cover. Cleverly, you can lift up part of this cover to admire the cogs at any time and, in fairness, it is pretty satisfying to watch everything work as you turn the lever. Everything else is obscured by the rocket itself, so unless you turn the model around, you won’t see any of the chains and pulleys that keep the top part of the model sturdy when it’s released from the base.

The only real complaint is that you’ll need to keep both hands on the set as you turn the crank. It’s a little too lightweight and wobbly to turn with one hand, so you’ll need to use your other hand to keep it steady. It’s hardly a big deal, of course, but a little extra weight in the base to counteract this would have been nice.

Should you buy the Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket?

You absolutely should buy Lego Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket. This is a seriously slick Technic set, with one of the best mechanisms I’ve seen to date. It’s simple but effective, and whether you’re looking for a set to educate a child about rockets or simply want a fun, realistic space-themed set for yourself, you absolutely cannot go wrong with this one. It’s an entertaining build too; despite having a fairly complex mechanism at the heart of it, the instructions are easy to follow.

The best thing? At $59.99, it’s not going to break the bank, either — and I often see Technic sets get pretty deep discounts during their lifetimes (though it’s worth every penny even at full price).

Other sets to consider

The most obvious alternative is the Lego Icons NASA Artemis Space Launch System. At 3,601 pieces and costing $259.99, however, this version is significantly bigger than the Technic version, and undoubtedly more complex to build. But it doesn’t feature any Technic mechanisms, and you certainly can’t launch this one. Given the weight of it, you certainly wouldn’t want to!

If you’re looking for a realistic space-themed set that’s more reasonably priced, I absolutely love the Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Exploration Telescope, which is worth every penny of its $34.99 asking price. It can also be built into a microscope or a tiny UFO, but the telescope itself is excellent. For another Technic set with moving parts, I’d recommend taking a look at the Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit. It’s a little pricier at $74.99, but it provides a nice model of the Earth and Moon, with a working orbit around the Sun.